How Pierce Brosnan turned Hollywood’s final gentleman
Fans around the world rarely stop swooning over Pierce Brosnan – but Halle Berry‘s admission this week that he restored her faith in men has left them weak at the knees once again for Hollywood’s most revered gentleman.
Oscar-winning actress Berry, 58, who starred as Jinx opposite Brosnan’s 007 in his final Bond film, Die Another Day in 2002, revealed the Irish actor, 71, ‘restored her faith in men’ after she had gone through a bitter divorce and was cheated on in a subsequent relationship.
‘I’m a Pierce Brosnan fan. He restored my faith in men on that movie. There couldn’t be a human who is more of a gentleman than Pierce Brosnan,’ she told Wired.
And it seems Berry’s not alone, as her comments led X (Twitter) to erupt in praise for the Bond actor as people shared their own stories of meeting him and declared that, at 71, his natural charisma is still as enchanting as ever.
Among the reasons people still adore Brosnan after all these years were tales of his chivalrous nature and his enduring love and adoration for his wife of 20 years, Keely Shaye Smith, in a world where clashing schedules and the pressure of the spotlight can bring down even the strongest of relationships.
Pierce Brosnan, 71, is being hailed one of the world’s most earnest gentlemen as people gush over his devotion to his wife Keely Shaye Smith, whom he married in 2001
Speaking to Wired, Berry said playing a Bond girl had never been on her career bucket list, but she now felt she was a part of ‘cinematic history’ after playing Jinx.
She said: ‘Those movies are iconic. They will forever be a part of our history, and I’m really honored to have been a part of one, especially with Pierce,’ and added the Irish actor will ‘always be my Bond’.
Her admiration for the actor and father-of-five is shared by millions of fans around the world who just can’t seem to get over his good looks, well-known kind nature and acting talent.
For Millennials, Brosnan remains ‘their Bond’, having grown up watching his blockbuster films including Tomorrow Never Dies and Goldeneye.
Halle Berry revealed to Wired that, after several difficult relationships and a divorce, working with Brosnan ‘restored her faith in men’
Pierce and Keely met in 1994 and married in 2001. Keely has worked as a journalist and a documentary maker and dedicates much of her work to ocean conservation
One person wrote on X in response to Berry’s comments: ‘It’s always nice things you hear about Pierce Brosnan and never anything bad. Dude is an absolute gentleman, I love this man.
‘Also I agree with Halle Berry I’m a Pierce Bond fan always have and always will be!!’
Another woman told a story of how a friend of hers had bumped into him while working as a conciérge in a hotel and apologised in a panic. In response, like a perfect gentleman, he put his hand her wrist and replied: ‘Entirely my fault.’
The alleged encounter had fans swooning once again, as others took to the social media site to share their own stories of Brosnan’s gentlemanly behaviour.
It only takes a new sighting of the Hollywood heartthrob to prompt an outpouring of admiration on social media.
Last month as he made an appearance at Wimbledon with his son, fans were quick to gush over his sharp tailored navy suit, perfectly styled silver hair and all-round charm.
Posting on X, one fan said: ‘Pierce Brosnan is eating so bad, I’m sorry to these men out there but you got nothing on him my god.’
Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely shared a sweet family snap from Hawaii on Instagram as they celebrated the Easter holiday in 2020
Brosnan’s first wife, Cassandra Harris, died from ovarian cancer in 1991. The couple shared three children, Sean (pictured), Charlotte and Christopher
Keely and Brosnan met in Mexico in 1994. Brosnan has often credited his second wife with helping him through the grief over his first wife
But aside from wowing fans at the age of 71 with his silver fox status and irresistible charm, Brosnan’s personal tragedies have also tugged on people’s heartstrings around the world.
The actor’s first wife, Cassandra Harris, whom he wed in 1980, tragically died in 1991, a day after their 11th wedding anniversary, from ovarian cancer at the age of 39.
The Australian-born actress, known as Cassie to friends and family, already had a daughter named Charlotte and a son called Christopher when she met Brosnan. After their biological father Dermot Harris died in 1986, Brosnan officially adopted the children.
In 1983, the couple also welcomed their son, Sean William Brosnan.
After Cassandra’s tragic death when Charlotte was 20, Christopher was 19 and Sean was just eight years old, Brosnan spoke of how her memory lived on.
Speaking to People in 1992 he said: ‘She has made me the man I am, the actor I am, the father I am. She’s forever embedded in every fibre of my being. She’s there with me every day. I was so blessed to have met someone like that.’
Family: Avery Wheless, son Dylan, Keely, Pierce , son Paris and Alex Lee (L-R) pictured in January at the Golden Globes
Snaps of Brosnan at Wimbledon this year in a sharply tailored suit and tie while sporting perfectly styled silver hair and a well-groomed beard set social media alight once again
He also spoke of the ‘incredible cruelty’ of losing someone so close to him and with whom he shared so much.
‘This is the first time in my life I’ve ever experienced bereavement, and it’s overwhelming,’ he said.
As he spoke about Cassandra’s 18 month-long battle with the aggressive cancer in raw detail, he revealed how their youngest son Sean would ‘play doctor’ and would nurse his mother after chemotherapy sessions when she was feeling nauseous and fatigued.
He also recalled the heartbreaking moment his wife of 14 years died in his arms while Charlotte, who was studying at RADA in London at the time, was on the phone and Christopher joined him in the room.
‘We were all together. And that’s how she went to God,’ he said.
After suffering unimaginable grief and heartache as a single father-of-three, Brosnan managed to find love again with American journalist, author, actress and model, Keely Shaye Smith.
After starring in a few small roles in TV and film throughout the 1980s, Keely transitioned to journalism and documentary filmmaking as she joined the crusade for protecting marine wildlife and saving the oceans.
The journalist, now 60, grew up in Oahu, Hawaii, and has dedicated much of her work to protecting the oceans surrounding the pacific island as well as in Mexico.
Brosnan and Keely, who are now based between Malibu in California and Hawaii, where Keely grew up, leave fans in awe over their enduring love
Keely and Pierce met in 1994 and married in 2001, Pictured together in 1997 at the premiere of Tomorrow Never Dies
Brosnan’s most famous role is womanising lothario James Bond, who loves and leaves his mistresses all in the space of a night – but in real life, the actor is a devoted husband
Upon meeting Pierce in Mexico in 1994, Keely told People that she immediately found the Bond actor ‘captivating’ and that he had a ‘mischievous sparkle in his eyes’.
In the same interview, the actor said of his wife: ‘I found a great woman in Keely Shaye. Not if I searched a million times over would I find one as good.’
As fans became captivated by the couple’s love story, they have been particularly touched by how Keely, who shares sons Paris and Dylan with the actor, has supported her husband as he continued to grieve over his first wife.
Speaking to the Irish Times in 2013, Pierce said: ‘Keely has always been kind and compassionate and encouraged me to mourn Cassie. … I suppose Keely is my North Star, always looking out for me.’
And she also supported her husband through more immeasurable grief, when his eldest daughter Charlotte died in 2013 from ovarian cancer, the same disease which claimed her mother’s life 21 years earlier. She was just 42 years old.
The actor pictured in 2006 alongside children Christopher (far left), Charlotte (centre left), and Sean (far right) as well as his mother Mary May (centre right)
Charlotte passed away at the age of just 42 on June 28, 2013 after a battle with ovarian cancer (Pierce and Charlotte pictured together in 2006)
Announcing her death in a statement, Brosnan said: ‘On June 28 my darling daughter Charlotte Emily passed on to eternal life, having succumbed to ovarian cancer.
‘She was surrounded by her husband Alex, children Isabella and Lucas and brothers Christopher and Sean.
‘Charlotte fought her cancer with grace and humanity, courage and dignity. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beautiful dear girl.
‘We pray for her and that the cure for this wretched disease will be close at hand soon. We thank everyone for their heartfelt condolences.’
The Irish actor reportedly flew back from Eastern Europe, where he had been filming spy thriller November Man, to the UK to be at his daughter’s bedside.
Pierce Brosnan marked the seventh anniversary of his daughter Charlotte’s death with a touching post on Instagram in 2020
Later that year, he told the Irish Mirror how his wife had helped him through yet more grief for Charlotte.
‘Love is just the most beautiful, joyous feeling. It can come from many places. Hopefully the one who is beside you, the one who is there on the pillow beside you in the morning – my wife,’ he said.
He added: ‘We seem to do well at being together and being in love and, more importantly, liking each other. The like factor is a great thing. Love cannot burn constantly.
‘It’s very hard for it to be so intense. But it’s wonderful. I tell her I love her everyday. It’s important to say that.’
Brosnan and Keely’s love has endured despite his star continuing to rise, while she has taken a quieter path in her career in more recent years.
And while, at every corner of the internet (and no doubt, the real world), Brosnan has admirers aplenty, his head has never turned.
He often shares his love for and devotion to Keely on Instagram where the couple celebrate milestones including anniversaries and birthdays.
Keely and Pierce share two sons, Dylan and Paris (pictured at his graduation)
Although he has admitted that long term relationships will always have ups and downs, Brosnan and his wife Keely are more in love than ever 30 years after they first met
The couple, who split their time between Malibu in California and Hawaii, often post tributes to each other on social media
In September 2023, as Keely turned 60, Brosnan posted a sweet snap of himself and his wife in front of a huge bouquet of flowers.
Brosnan wrote: ‘Sixty roses for my brown eyed girl on her 60th birthday. Forever happy and blessed was I to be sitting there when you walked around the corner early one morning in Cabo San Lucas.’
Last year, as he celebrated his 22nd wedding anniversary with his wife, he reflected on two decades of marriage in an interview with Fox News.
He said: ‘We’ve been down the road, and we’ve seen many, many hardships as families do, as we all do. But watching someone grow up with you and grow old with you is a very spiritual journey.
‘To watch each other change… whatever it may be, the hair, the waist. But it’s the love in the heart.’
As he reflected on Keely’s less star-studded career in comparison to Hollywood’s bright lights, Brosnan said: ‘Keeley is a journalist, a reporter. She’s an artist in her own right. And as a woman, she has made a family for our sons.
‘She allows me to go out into the wild blue yonder and do what I do as a man, as an actor, [she] always has.’
